Obviously, this is a great move. Tuscon and Bisbee, which enacted a similar statute earlier in June, will let couples register their civil unions with the city, opening up access to all marriage rights that the city alone bestows. Their rights as married couples will still be limited by what the cities can provide, but it’s definitely better than nothing.

The new statutes raise an interesting question, though, one that same-sex couples all over those thirty-five states will have to grapple with in the coming years. Where are the lines between federal, state, and city jurisdiction over same-sex marriage? As of Wednesday, the federal government will recognize same-sex unions. In a state like Arizona, in a city like Tuscon, a gay couple wanting to marry will be welcomed by their federal government and their city government but turned away by their state. What rights does their marriage have and not have?

Right now, same-sex couples all over the country are rejoicing over the Supreme Court decision. I imagine couples in Tuscon are even happier. These steps forward are absolutely causes for celebration. Every time I hear about a new institution making a choice to support every kind of love, I feel a little better about the world. But until every state in our country can recognize marriage between two men or two women, same-sex couples are going to be facing some very tricky legal problems.